John Jay to Catharine W. Livingston, 17 December 1780
Madrid 17 Dec r . 1780
Dear Kitty
It is uncertain whether this Letter will ever come to your Hands. two or three others are now on the way to you– I fear your late Letters have been unfortunate–the last that reached us was dated in July 1 –since which we have not heard anything of the Family– We suspect that several Letters from our Friends were committed to M r . Laurens Care– If so they may one of these Days have the Pleasure of seeing themselves in Print–it is said all his Papers fell into the Enemy–s Hands–the poor man is still in the Tower, where his Reputation as well as Person lies at the mercy of the Ministry– They have insinuated that he has said many Things, which without better Evidence than their words, I cannot believe he ever said–
All the World here are cursing Arnold & pitying his wife– Arnold–s Plot is the Subject of every Conversation– Do you know at what Price he sold his Conscience & Reputation? a Report prevails here that Gen. Clinton agreed to give him 80–²000 Sterl. & a Maj r . General–s Commission, & Maj r . Andrews 2 Life in the Bargain. I had a Letter a few Days ago from France which informs me that one Smith of Haverstraw was one of Arnolds Accomplices, & soon to be hanged– Should this be Tho s . Smith? If so– I suppose he is in some Measure indebted to his Brothers Politics–his Brother James is in Holland and has written to me–his Letter bespeakes him a staunch Whig– 3
Your Brother is gone to Bilboa, 4 from ^ whence ^ you will probably hear from him–how long he may stay is uncertain– Some say it has more Charms than any other part of Spain–if he should be of that opinion, I shall not expect to see him again very soon–
We are daily promising ourselves the pleasure of recieving some very long Letters from you–you have hitherto been very attentive–dont fall off– Your Letters are always doubly welcome–the Hand that writes them has few equals, and they contain more interesting Information than most others we recieve–
Kiss our little Boy for us– I will repay you when we meet in the mean Time accept my best wishes– I assure you they extend to every Thing that can make you happy here & hereafter–our Love to all the Family I am D r . Kitty your aff t . Broth r
John Jay